CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
of the Study
Political
participation is the degree and forms of involvement of citizens in governance
and related institutions of society such as the economy and culture. Igwee
(2002). It entails the participation of the citizenry in political campaigns
and debates, attending strategy meetings of political parties, voting during
elections, contesting as aspirants for elections and holding of important
government and political party positions (Douglas, 2014). It is germane to
democracy and fundamental to the stability and legitimacy of every political
system (Agbalajobi, 2010) and a society cannot be truly democratized without
the full, active and equal participation of both genders.
In
democracy, equal participation, fairness and equal treatment of all citizens –
male and female is vital in the representation and control of power of a
society. Political participation is good for democracy but all democracies are
plagued by systematic inequalities in participation Galston (2001).
Hilde
and Catherine (2011) posits that one of the most persistent inequalities has
been based on gender such that women are found to participate less than men,
which suggests that half of the population’s interests are not well
represented.
A
number of scholars have observed complexity and disparity in the relationships
between gender and political participation (Akinboye, 2004; Rai, 2000; Farzana,
2005; Hederson, 2006; Anifowose, 2004). The participation and representation of
women in public and political institutions have been reported as low in several
countries.
There
are only twelve countries where women hold 33% or more seats in the
parliaments, despite the pronounced commitment of the international community
to gender equality and to the bridging the gender gap in the formal political
arena, reinforced by the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform of Action (UNDP
(2005). Women’s participation in legislatures around the world is 15 percent
(Farzana, 2005).
The
nation Nigeria was ranked 152 out of 187 countries and was classified as a low human development
country, according to the United Nation’s (UN) Human Development Reports
(2013).
Women
have been politically considered endangered species and their low participation
in Nigerian government and politics is often associated with culture,
religious, economic constraint and male chauvinism, as sexism has become a
major problem in Nigerian politics. Most of the leadership roles have been
placed on the men folk in the African society in general and Nigerian society
in particular, which necessitates the championing of the course of gender
inequality.
However,
the traditional society did not recognize the contributions of women in any
decision making process, as some feminist perceive women’s marginality in the
conduct and management of the public affairs as arising from their entrenchment
of the globalized capitalists relations of production. The women are carefully
ignored in any important meeting of the family, community and even in
government establishments (Farzana, 2005). Till today, some community
development meetings are always held at night thereby making it impossible for
most women to attend.
Nonetheless,
feminists have failed to fundamentally unravel in their explanatory analysis to
the feminine gender self-emulating attitudes. Feminine gender-self-destructive
factors is the decline of women participation in government and it is often lay
in exist analysis, for instance, the 1991 population census put the number of
Nigerian women at about 44 million which is almost 50%, and by implication,
half of the Nigerian electorates (National Population Census Commission). This
electoral power has not been converted to assertive feminine electoral and
political advantages over the years (NNCC Report, 1991).
Up
until the fourth republic, gender is still a major issue in political
participation, however, in recent general elections, many women have risen up
to the challenges of the time. Many women have come to assume leadership
positions at different levels politically, which is a welcome development and a
good step in the right direction as it will help against gender inequality and
male chauvinism in Nigeria political settings.
Even
though a slight improvement was noticed in the fourth republic that commenced
in 1999, however, women participation in the political system was still
characteristically low. For instance, only 181 position (1.5%) were occupied by
women out of the 11,881 available positions throughout the country
(Akiyode-Afolabi, 2003). Out of the 109 senators elected into the Senate in the
same elections, only 5 (4.6%) of them were females while 13 (3.6%) females were
elected into the House of Representatives out of the 360 seats (Ajayi, 2007).
No female was elected into the gubernatorial seats throughout the country and
out of the 990 seats that were available for the states House of Assembly
nationwide, only 12 (1.21%) females were elected (Adu, 2008). It was also noted
that out of the 774 local government Chairpersons that were elected in the same
election across the country, only 9 (1.16%) were females and out of the 8,700
Councilors, only 143 (1.64%) were females.
Gender
equality and the empowerment of women are at the heart of many national and
international commitments, including the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Obviously, developed countries have recorded some measures of appreciable
progress in mainstreaming gender issues. However, developing countries are yet
to mainstream gender issues in their economic, socio-cultural and political
affairs. In this regard, development across the world has been visibly uneven.
1.2
Statement
of Research Problem
Several
academic reviews have showed that Nigeria political settings in the fourth
republic is still gender based as majority of women are having difficult
challenges in venturing massively into politics. Women have been marginalized
and relegated to the hidden corner of politics, which is largely due to social
and cultural factors, thereby enriching men to dominate the public spheres. Observably,
women are not only marginalized, they are also alienated from serious political
activities as critical information is withheld from them. This has been a major
problem in the fourth republic. In the recent general elections in Nigeria for
example, it was observed that many women aspirants were kept off at the
nomination stage, they are seen as male extension; as people who cannot stand
on their own politically but have to be guided by men (Daniel, 2012).
According
to Aluko (2011:41), the absence or under-representation of female gender in
decision-making and implementation processes undermines the fundamental concept
of democratic form of governance which assumes that participation and
representation in all areas and levels of public life will be equally available
to women and men. However, politics and political arrangement in Nigeria has
undermined female gender legitimacy resulting into political powerlessness for
female folks. Akiyode-Afolabi (2010) submits that women’s overall political
representation and participation in government is still at 8%, which is however
worrisome in the fourth republic. Thus this study aims to examine the gender
and political participation in Nigeria’s fourth republic, thereby attempting to
suggest possible strategies that can be used to enhance equal gender participation
in politics.
1.3
Objectives
of the Study
Generally,
the objective of this study is to examine gender and political participation in
Nigeria’s fourth republic. Explicitly, it intends to:
i)
To assess the nature of gender
participation in fourth republic politics in Nigeria
ii)
To identify the factors that lead to the
low participation of women in politics when compared to their male
counterparts in fourth republic
iii)
Investigate the structures and
procedures that underpin the subordinate positions of women in political
privilege.
iv)
Make probable recommendations that can
increase gender equality in political participation in Nigeria’s fourth
republic
1.4
Research Questions
This study aims to seek answers to the
following questions:
1) Does
educational background affect women’s participation in Nigeria politics?
2)
Do you agree
that 30% affirmative action of political participation and
representation of women in the national gender policy is achievable?
3) Does
political parties’ setup in Nigeria affect women’s active participation in the
fourth republic?
4) Does
the fear of intimidation impede women in contesting for political posts in the
fourth republic?
1.5
Significance
of the Study
Both
gender participation in politics in the fourth republic is a contentious issue
in the Nigerian political life, as the issue of inequality has been perceived
by different people especially the women folk as an attempt to erode their
fundamental rights. Significantly, this study will not only determine the extent
of participation of women in Nigeria’s politics but it will also explore the possible
factors that hinder women’s active Participation in the fourth republic. The
fact that the study is focused on the current democratic dispensation and the analysis
of women’s participation in the recent general elections in Nigeria which
further authenticate its significance. Expectedly, the data generated from this
study would be helpful in formulating policies that will promote gender
equality in all public and leadership structures. Thus, the data will be useful
to policy makers, scholars and as well, add to the scanty literature on gender
participation in politics in Nigeria’s fourth republic.
1.6
Scope of the Study
This
study is aimed at examining gender and political participation in Nigeria and
it shall be narrowed to the fourth republic. The study will investigate the political
involvement in the fourth republic and it will concentrate on gender and party
politics.
1.7
Limitation
of the Study
The
researcher was faced with a number of constraints in the process of carrying
out this study. Some of them are discussed below:
Time:
Time
is one limiting factor of the study. This relates to the fact that this
research work is one out of a number of different courses.
Inadequate
Finance: The price of most of the materials
needed for the study had been increased in the recent past. This constrained
the researcher to strict conservation of almost everything at the expense of
presenting a better work.
1.8
Methodology
In
gathering data for this study, the researcher used the survey research method.
The primary source of data will be collected through questionnaires which will
be administered randomly using the general public and male and female involved
in politics.
Okoye
(1996:51) opines that: survey is a method which is geared towards the study of
people, their attitudinal frame of mind, and their systems, opines motivational
range and manifestation. Survey method which was used is adopted to
counter-check the already existing ideas and knowledge known and seen which
concerns this study. The research is
restricted to the simple random sampling procedure. According to Osuala (1982:
104) random sampling procedure refers to as method of drawing a portion of
population so that each member has equal chance of being selected.
In
determining the sample size for this research work, the systematic sample
method was used. The researcher administered a total of hundred and ten (110)
questionnaires to respondents while a hundred (100) questionnaires is collected
by the researcher.
The
method of data analysis that is used is simple percentage and frequency tabular
presentation in which descriptive analysis was used to infer meaning to the
data in the table. Also, the chi-square of goodness of fit test is used to text
some selected hypothesis.
The
secondary source will include books, journals on gender inequality and also
publication on electronic media. In collecting data, statistical tools will be
used such as percentage and diagrams.
1.9
Definition of Terms
Gender:
Gender
refers to the socially constructed roles, behavior, activities, and attributes
that a particular society considers appropriate for men and women.
Gender
Inequality: Gender inequality refers to disparity
between individuals due to gender. Gender is constructed socially through
social interaction as well as biologically through chromosomes, brain structures
and hormonal differences (Wikipedia).
Woman:
Woman is defined as an adult female person.
Women
Right: These are inalienable, integral and indivisible
parts of universal human rights.
Women
Violation: These are gender-based violence, which
may likely result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to
women including threats, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether
occurring in private or public life.
Women
Empowerment: This refers to the provision and
availability of opportunity and services which enables women to actively
participation and contribute to political, economic, social and cultural
development of the nation.
Discrimination
against Women: According to the new edition of Oxford
Advance Dictionary, discrimination is the practice of treating somebody or a
particular group in the society less fairly than the others. Discrimination
against women therefore, stands for the practice of treating women less fairly
than men in the society.
Women
Participation in Politics: According to Ibrahim
and Salihu, the marginalization of women in the society can be traced back to
humanity’s history. It is not restricted to specific culture and people,
variations often occur in its nature and manifestation. However, it is by no
means inherent in man’s nature but social phenomenon that reveals itself
through relationship and the emerging culture values and norms often affirmed
through existing institutional and legal structure of the society. It is in the
light of the foregoing that Odofu and Omojuwa posited that, women worldwide are
in a disadvantageous position and that the above statement currently situates
the negative plight of women in global and historical context.